Quincy woman says group attacked her, used racial slurs

QUINCY – Police are investigating a report of five people shouting racial slurs as they attacked a black woman on Houghs Neck early Thursday morning.

Police Capt. John Dougan said the 58-year-old Quincy woman told police she was walking along Sea Avenue around 1:15 a.m. Thursday when a black SUV pulled up and five young adults – four white men and a white woman – got out and attacked her while using racial epithets.

The woman told police she was kicked near the face by one of the assailants, Dougan said.

Dougan said the woman suffered cuts to her lips, a bump near an eye and damage to her teeth, but refused medical treatment. He said police are investigating the attack.

Sea Avenue is on the tip of Houghs Neck that leads to Nut Island.

Dougan said he couldn’t comment about whether the woman knew her alleged attackers or if police were aware of what prompted the incident. He said he didn’t know if the alleged attack was racially motivated.

A racially motivated attack is considered a civil rights violation and can lead to a more severe punishment if someone is convicted or admits to the crime.

For example, in 2010 and 2011, five white young adults from Marshfield received jail or prison sentences after being convicted or pleading guilty to a racially motivated attack involving the stabbing of a black man in 2008.

Patriot Ledger reporter Patrick Ronan contributed to this story. Neal Simpson may be reached at nesimpson@ledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @NSimpson_Ledger.